Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFZEMB5’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFZEMB5’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; large dark green-colored leaves; uniform flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems typically grown as a single-stem (disbudded) cut flower; decorative-type inflorescences with light yellow green and yellow green bi-colored ray florets; and relative resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFZEMB5’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Mar. 20, 2019

Ser. No.: 62/919,611

Inventor/Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Apr. 5, 2018, application number 2018/0952 and a Columbian Plant Breeder's Rights application was filed on Aug. 24, 2018, application number A182422. Foreign priority is not claimed to these applications.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFZEMB5’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Zembla’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,052. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Zembla’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in October, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since October, 2016 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFZEMB5’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFZEMB5’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Large dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems typically grown as a         single-stem (disbudded) cut flower.     -   5. Decorative-type inflorescences with light yellow green and         yellow green bi-colored ray florets.     -   6. Relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.         chrysanthemi.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the mutation parent, ‘Zembla’, in ray floret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have light yellow green and yellow green bi-colored ray florets whereas plants of ‘Zembla’ have solid yellow green-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Zembla Lime’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Zembla Lime’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are darker yellow green in color than ray florets of plants of ‘Zembla Lime’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFZEMB5’ grown as a disbud-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheen (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of lower (top of the photographic sheet) and upper (bottom of the photographic sheet) surfaces of typical inflorescences (left) and leaves (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 20° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem disbud-type plants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFZEMB5’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum     X morifolium ‘Zembla’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,052. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve             days at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stem disbud-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 83.8             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 87.6 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 22.4 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 77.7 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 3 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 15.1 cm. Width: About 8.6 cm. Shape: Oblong to             obovate. Apex: Short apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Palmately lobed, coarsely serrate to crenate; sinuses             convergent and deep. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Moderately pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; matte             to slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety;             matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between 143B and             144A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to between NN137A and             147A; venation, close to 146B. Fully developed leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to between 146C and             147B. Petioles: Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.75             mm by 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; slightly             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B; edges, close to             137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147C; edges, close to             137A. Stipules: Quantity and appearance: Two leafy stipules,             opposite, at the petiole attachment to the stem. Length:             About 4 mm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Roughly reniform.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent, not             rugose; moderately velvety; matte to slightly glossy.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent,             prominent venation; slightly velvety; matte. Color, upper             surface: Close to between NN137A and 147A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative uncurved inflorescence form with             oblanceolate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets             (disc florets are inconspicuous); inflorescences borne             perpendicular to peduncles and face mostly upright; ray and             disc florets develop acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             53 days later when grown as a disbud-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in             an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will             maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Grown as a disbud-type, all             lateral inflorescences are physically removed and only the             terminal inflorescence is allowed to develop; if grown as a             spray-type, then typically about 18 inflorescences will             develop.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Grown as a disbud type, about             10.5 cm and grown as a spray-type, about 8.2 cm. Depth             (height): Grown as a disbud type, about 6.2 cm and grown as             a spray-type, about 3.7 cm. Disc diameter: About 5 mm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145C to 145D.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About             1.4 cm. Shape: Oblong. Texture and luster: Distally, smooth             and glabrous; proximally, slightly to moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy. Color: Close to 143A; immature ray florets,             close to 145D and 145B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 340 arranged in             about eight whorls. Length: About 4 cm; varying between 1.6             cm and 5.2 cm. Width: About 9 mm; varying between 0.2 cm and             1.2 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate; slightly convex and moderately             carinate. Apex: Obtuse to rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire; slightly and coarsely undulate. Aspect: Initially             upright to about 90° from vertical. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to NN155B; distally, close to 145B to 145C.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155C; distally,             close to 145B to 145C; venation, similar to lamina colors;             color does not change with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to NN155C; distally, close to 145B; venation,             similar to lamina; color does not change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 18 arranged in             about three whorls; disc florets inconspicuous. Length:             About 7 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 85% fused             into a tube; upper 15% free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin,             distally: Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening,             inner and outer surfaces: Close to 150D; towards the apex,             close to N144D and towards the base, close to 145D. Color,             fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 150D;             towards the apex, close to N144D and towards the base, close             to 145D,         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 32             arranged in three whorls. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About             3.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to             between 143A and 144A; margins, translucent and close to             157A and 200B. Color, lower surface: Close to 137B; margins,             translucent and close to 157A and 200B.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 7.1 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 4 mm. Length, third             peduncle (when grown as a spray-type): About 8.6 cm.             Diameter, third peduncle (when grown as a spray-type): About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly             upright. Aspect, third peduncle (when grown as a             spray-type): About 40° from the flowering stem axis. Texture             and luster: Moderately pubescent; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 150D. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             color: Close to 13A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 14B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per ray floret. Pistil length: About             7 mm. Style length: About 5.75 mm. Style color: Close to             145C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 153D. Ovary color: Close             to 145D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f.     sp. chrysanthemi. To date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to     plants grown under commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFZEMB5’ as illustrated and described. 